Hurricane ‘Peach Days’ celebrates harvest, honors city’s heritage

In this photo from 2014, parade participants throw candy from a colorful float in this photo from Hurricane City's "Peach Days" 2014, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 30, 2014 | Photo by T.S. Romney, St. George News

HURRICANE — Hurricane City will honor its heritage and celebrate the peach harvest with the “Peach Days” festival Thursday through Saturday.

From the stalwart pioneers who helped bring water to the valley to the modern citizens who believe in the importance of civic pride, Peach Days celebrates those who sacrificed their time and energy to help make the Hurricane Valley what it is today.

The peach harvest has long been a traditional part of the Hurricane Valley, Peach Days committee executive board member, David Stirland, said. The Peach Days celebration started a long time ago and was always held in August. The festival eventually morphed into what is now the Washington County Fair, Stirland said, and was held in Hurricane proper.

When the fair moved to Washington County Regional Park, Stirland and other like-minded Hurricane citizens decided to bring the Peach Days celebration back to Hurricane, he said.

Today it has become a premier festival not only for Hurricane residents but for guests from all over the county and beyond.

The three-day festival will feature hundreds of food and commercial vendors for guests to enjoy, professional entertainment, fine art displays, professional quilt displays and demonstrations, a guided historical walk along the Canal Trail, carnival-style games, a parade and much more.

“The parade is one of the largest in Washington County,” Stirland said. “We have over 100 entries. Lots of candy is thrown.”

Special guests Rep. Chris Stewart and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox will be featured speakers at a special event Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center, 92 S. 100 West in Hurricane.

The state dignitaries will also participate in the parade, which is scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m., Stirland said.

Peach Days will celebrate the Hurricane Valley’s tradition of farming with peach bake-offs, produce displays and activities that honor those who helped bring water to the valley.

A rodeo and fireworks display will be highlights of this year’s celebration as well.

Peach Days opens Thursday at 5 p.m. and will close Saturday at 10 p.m. A full schedule of events and activities can be found here.